Good Lighting Award 2015 - Island Roads

Ms Alex Tunnicliffe being presented with an Award by the High SheriffPhoto: CPRE-IW

At the recent CPRE AGM held at Nunwell House the annual Good Lighting Awards were presented, with thanks to the IW High Sheriff. CPRE’s annual Good Lighting Award scheme reviewed examples of sky-friendly external illumination and the best were given awards.

The biggest change currently taking place all over the Island is the programme of replacing the old orange sodium vapour street lamps along the roads and highways with the now familiar LED types. Some Island residents complain that these newcomers are not as good as the Old ‘Uns, but whenever anything changes in this part of the world, people will seize the chance to have a good moan about it!) But looking at it seriously, the old lamps gave all a weird orange glow whereas these LED upstarts show us in our true colours. What could be nicer than that?

This award goes to an organisation whose dedication and efficiency in changing the complex system that is street lighting across the Island is to be congratulated.

For a few years Islanders have become familiar with the flat plate style of LED lamps on our streets and roadways but the latest installations are different. Examples may be spotted in Regent Street in Shanklin; along Union Street in Ryde; around Brighstone Village, and in various locations in Newport, etc. These are from the Heritage range and are designed to merge into a conservation street environment while providing a high standard of illumination of pavements and roadways without any blinding upward glare.

So, Island Roads gained our thanks for a job well done. Pictured is Ms Alex Tunnicliffe being presented with an Award by the High Sheriff

There are still pockets of the orange ones remaining but hopefully even these will eventually disappear. Now, if only the HM Prison lighting at Parkhurst could be upgraded, we might be able once more to see the Milky Way over Newport...